Separation and determination of zirconium carbide in Zr50Al 10Ni5Cu30 bulk metallic glass matrix composites containing ZrC particles

Abstract

The method of separation and determination of zirconium carbide in Zr 50Al10Ni5Cu30 bulk metallic glass matrix composites containing zirconium carbide particles has been developed. The zirconium carbide was not dissolved through the metallic glass specimen was dissolved with 6 kmol·m-3 hydrochloric acid of the room temperature. After complete dissolution of the metallic glass matrix specimen with 6 kmol·m-3 hydrochloric acid of the room temperature, the undissolved zirconium carbide was separated by filtration with the membrane filter having the pore size of 0.2 μm. The separated zirconium carbide was fused with the potassium hydrogen sulfate in the platinum crucible. The concentrations of zirconium, copper, aluminum and nickel in the filtrate and the insoluble residue were determined respectively by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The zirconium concentration in the filtrate and the insoluble residue were constant irrespective of the dissolution time. Copper, aluminum and nickel were not detected in the insoluble zirconium carbide. It was confirmed that the zirconium carbide in the Zr50Al10Ni5Cu30 bulk metallic glass matrix had been quantitatively separated and determined. © 2010 The Japan Institute of Metals.